Picture Jasper For Sale

Picture jasper is a variety of jasper characterized by patterning reminiscent of a scenic painting. Traditionally, this form has inclusions that produce a layered pattern that creates the illusion of a landscape within the specimen. For the true beauty of these formations to be revealed, the nodule must be cut and polished to achieve the desired effect. Picture jasper is a favorite of lapidarists worldwide: the material is easily cut, polished, shaped, and is exciting throughout, meaning there is little waste! Many picture jasper specimens depart from the dull red coloring typical of jasper, instead inviting blue and green into their scenic displays.

Picture jasper’s landscapes are a result of depositional banding during formation. These layers are influenced by water flow and wind in addition to coloring and dendritic patterning dictated by the compositions of inclusions.

29 Items ($39 to $1,295)

Exceptional, Polished Section of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #307985

10.9" Exceptional, Polished Section of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

$1,295

Exceptional, Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #302898

Exceptional, 8.6" Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

$695

Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon #265617

8.5" Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

$595

Polished Section of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #308282

6.5" Polished Section of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

$345

Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon #263843

8.25" Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

$245

Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #302104

3.9" Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

$215

Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon #263839

7.05" Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

$195

Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #302103

5.6" Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

$175

Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon #302112

6.5" Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

$175

Carved Wild Horse Picture Jasper Turtle - Oregon #308667

5.3" Carved Wild Horse Picture Jasper Turtle - Oregon

$145

Polished Picture Stone (Jasper) Egg - South Africa #308873

3.35" Polished Picture Stone (Jasper) Egg - South Africa

$125

Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon #302913

5.65" Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

$125

Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon #302911

5.25" Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

$85

Polished Golden Picture Jasper Section - Nevada #281720

2.1" Polished Golden Picture Jasper Section - Nevada

$59

Polished Golden Picture Jasper Section - Nevada #281712

5" Polished Golden Picture Jasper Section - Nevada

$59

Polished Picture Stone (Jasper) Egg - South Africa #308844

2.25" Polished Picture Stone (Jasper) Egg - South Africa

$45

Polished Picture Stone (Jasper) Egg - South Africa #308788

2" Polished Picture Stone (Jasper) Egg - South Africa

$39

Polished Cripple Creek Picture Jasper Slab - Oregon #308121

13.4" Polished Cripple Creek Picture Jasper Slab - Oregon

SOLD

Exceptional Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #263513

9.2" Exceptional Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

SOLD

Polished Rocky Butte Picture Jasper Slab - Oregon #198953

18.3" Polished Rocky Butte Picture Jasper Slab - Oregon

SOLD

Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #184893

5.2" Polished Slab of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

SOLD

Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon #193155

9.3" Polished Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

SOLD

6.1" Biggs Jasper Slab - Oregon

SOLD

Polished Cripple Creek Picture Jasper Section - Oregon #229081

6.4" Polished Cripple Creek Picture Jasper Section - Oregon

SOLD

Polished Golden Picture Jasper Slice - Nevada #207617

4" Polished Golden Picture Jasper Slice - Nevada

SOLD

Polished Golden Picture Jasper Slab - Nevada #129720

7.3" Polished Golden Picture Jasper Slab - Nevada

SOLD

Polished Golden Picture Jasper Section - Nevada #144967

3.6" Polished Golden Picture Jasper Section - Nevada

SOLD

Biggs Picture Jasper Oval Cabochon #171356

1.7" Biggs Picture Jasper Oval Cabochon

SOLD

Polished Section of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon #150520

4.8" Polished Section of Blue Mountain Jasper - Oregon

SOLD

How Does Picture Jasper Form?

This variety of jasper forms in a manner that is relatively similar to all other forms of chalcedony: as deposition within nodules. As silica gel full of inclusions (typically iron) cools within a hollow nodule, bands and patterns form. Directionality and shape is influenced by wind, water and potentially volcanic activity as the gel-like substance settles.

Picture jasper is usually exposed to a variety of environmental stressors that create layers of different colors, orbicular masses, and dendritic, branching inclusions. This formation can occur in any geologic environment, though igneous localities tend to produce the most spectacular varieties.

What Are The Different Varieties Of Picture Jasper?

There is a wide selection of picture jaspers on the market! These stunning specimens come from all over the world, with astonishing varieties occurring in Indonesia and Russia in addition to the plethora that are mined throughout the United States. Below is a sampling of the most notable US localities:

Bigg’s Jasper - This variety occurs in Bigg’s Junction, Oregon, and was formed as mud solidified with silica-rich volcanic ash. These nodules look like concentrically stacked shells ranging from a khaki beige through shades of brown, often into dark chocolate colors. After its discovery in the 1960s it has been a collector’s favorite and is considered as a front-runner for the finest picture jasper variety.

Bruneau Jasper - As of 2009, this variety from the Bruneau River canyon in Idaho is no longer actively mined. This now rare form is distinguished by its thick bands of whites, caramels, reds, and browns. A spectacular aspect of Bruneau jasper is the potential for green bands that enhance the aesthetic of their winding canyon landscapes.

Rocky Butte Picture Jasper - As one would gather from the name, this variety of jasper is collected from the Rocky Butte area outside Portland, Oregon. This location is the remnant of an extinct cinder cone volcano, whose ancient explosive activity is responsible for the creation of this variety of picture jasper. What sets this variety apart from others are the thick blue and green sections crossed by red and brown bands and tendrils of dendritic branches. The viewer is immediately reminded of a massive tree whose branches are piercing the sky. It is quite magnificent to behold the weaving branches that add an aspect of movement to these stone-still specimens.

Blue Mountain Picture Jasper - Blue Mountain Jasper comes from a single mine in southern Oregon near McDermitt. It is considered one of the premier picture jaspers in the world. Blue Mountain jasper is highly coveted by lapidary craftsmen and is frequently polished into cabochons for jewelry making. It takes a superior polish and is known for its blue, green, and olive-colored orbs in a field of dusky blue-black. These pieces make for astonishing display pieces: their olive and cream-colored orbs offering the viewer a snapshot of what could be interpreted as a moonrise over the bayou.

How Does Picture Jasper Form?

What Are The Different Varieties Of Picture Jasper?

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